ADVANCED DECONTAMINATION AND DECOMMISSIONING SYSTEM

摘要

Radioactive waste packaging in many areas is handled manually with workers sorting the piecesand placing them into containers. Because of the risks associated with contamination andradiation levels, workers are not allowed to efficiently pack the waste in the container and aregenerally prohibited from reaching into or over the container walls. The effect is that containersare unevenly or partially filled, contain voids, or are off-balance. The workers may also notaccurately manifest the waste in each box. This ultimately results in using more containers tostore and dispose of the waste than is necessary and may require reopening of a box if additionalcharacterization is required. With high disposal costs, there is a strong incentive to minimize thewaste volumes.The Advanced Decontamination and Decommissioning System (ADDS) is a tool which will aidin dose reduction, contamination reduction, waste minimization and many other areas. TheADDS is an integrated system that assists in facility decontamination and decommissioning(D&D) from the planning stages through the waste packaging stages. This system includes threemajor components:1. Decontamination, Decommissioning & Remediation Optimal Planning System (DDROPS)2. Waste Characterization/Sorting System (WCSS)3. Robotic Waste Packing System (RWPS)DDROPS is a computer-based planning system that allows a project manager or operator tosimulate a facility for remediation preplanning and waste minimization purposes. DDROPSincorporates solid geometric modeling and optimization techniques to help identify locations forsegmenting contaminated materials (pipes, tanks, etc.) to improve packaging densities withinwaste boxes and to minimize radiation exposure to D&D workers. DDROPS can also be used toallow operators to move throughout the virtual facility and familiarize themselves with thesurroundings without being exposed to the hazards of the actual facility. Radiation fields, linkedto the various objects within the model, aid an operator in estimating radiation doses foroperational tasks.The WCSS provides detailed characterization information on each piece of waste removedduring dismantlement operations. It is a standardized characterization platform that can berapidly modified to accommodate changing waste characterization requirements (e.g.,radioactive, material or chemical detection techniques) and different waste stream characteristics(e.g., different types/sizes of waste streams). The characterization information includes weight,volume, radioactive concentrations and type of material. This information is sent to a databasethat will interface with the robotic packing system and a packaging optimizer.The RWPS includes a robotic arm system designed for use in a low-profile trailer. This systemwill optimally segregate and package the waste after it has been sent through the WCSS. TheRWPS receives pieces from the WCSS on a conveyor belt, identifies the piece, and calculates theoptimal packing location in one of the 4-5 available waste boxes also included in the trailer. Itthen picks up the piece, moves it to the appropriate container, orients the piece and places it inthe correct location in the correct container. When a waste box is filled, a manifest detailing thecontents is produced.The ADDS will assist in improving D&D operation by reducing radiation exposures throughpreplanning with facility modeling and through robotic waste packaging; by improving wastecharacterization and ensuring each waste container is adequately manifested; and by minimizingthe number of waste containers filled for a given volume of waste.